Machine for use in making boxes



Nov. 29, 1932, K. w. REED 1,839,181

MACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES Filed March 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elvwentoz I mm'p w. @114 2 61%. 35% 4m 61m f aw;

Nov. 29, 1932. K. w. REED 1,889,131

MACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES Filed March 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H H H IIIIHIIIIH illlll ll l-Il HmHll/l 4 ,M BY 61% W A TTORNE YJ' Now. 29, 1932.

K. w. REED MACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES Filed March 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hil "Him

Hllll INVENTOR P /M Hm 1a A TTORNE y:

Nov. 29, 1932. 1 ED 1,889,181

MACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES Filed March 28. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I a moemtoz M A! @513 flame/1 1 aw M 1* Nov. 29, 1932. K. w. REED MACHINE FOR uss IN MAKING BOXES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 28, 1929 awuewtoz wwzz 1. HW/ @251 [wk abhor mugs Patented Nov. 29, 1932 F-FHQE KENNETH; W". REED, BOGNTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STAPLING'MAGHINES 00., A CORPOB-ATIQN F DELAWARE MIACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES Application filed March 28, 1929. Serial No. 350,490.

This invention relates to machines for making box blanks, and, more particularly, to

machines for making foldablc wirebound boxblanks.

Among other objects, the invention is intended to provide certain improvements contributin g to the eliicienc and economical operation of such machines, and broadening their field of operation to include the manufacture of types of box blanks not heretofore produced on box blank machines; said improvements being hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

One illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a box blank machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the stapling mechanism viewed from the right in Fig. 1, and showing, in section, the

materials for a'box blank and certain of the box part positioning and feeding elements.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 4 l of Fig. 2, with certain parts left out for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 5 is top plan view of one illustrative box blank which may be made on the illustrative machine. I

Fig. 6 is sectional view of the box blank taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sine elevation of the box blank of 5 with the exterior cleats omitted for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the box blank of Fig. 5.

The illustra ive machine consists generally of positioning and feeding means for the box parts, stapling" mechanism adapted to apply binding wire to the box parts, means to provide slack in a binding wire between successive staples at certain points, means to sever the binding wire between box blanks, and means to strip or remove the finish-ed blanks from the positioning and feeding means; the several operating elements being ort d by the usual supporting frames and cross-bars.

The detailed description of the machine will be clarified by reference to one illustrative product of the machine which is shown in Figs. 58 inclusive. As there shown, the box blank consists of four separate foldably related sections, each section comprising a sheet or sheets of side material a, an interior oleat b atone end of the side material, and an exterior cleat 0 at the other end of the side material; the several sections being foldably connected by binding wires d, d, d secured to the several sections by staples e. The several sections may be located close enough together to produce, when folded, a tight cornered box with the wires tensioned over the corner edges. Th s result may be accomplished by spacing adjacent edges of the side material a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the side material. If an open corner box is desired the sections of side material may be spaced apart appropriate distances to provide the desired corner openingsin the finished box.

lit will be noted that, binding, wire d 0011- tacts with the side material in line with the interior cleats Z) and is stapled to the side material and the interior cleats by staples which pass through the side material and into or through the interior cleats; that binding wire cl contacts with the side material and is stapled thereto by staples which pass through the side material and are preferably clinched 011 the underside; and that binding wire 03 contacts with the exterior cleats '0 and is stapled thereto by staples which preferably pass through the exterior cleats and the side material and are clinched on the underside of the side material. Additional wires (Z may be applied ifneeded.

As best shown in Fig. 6, slack may be provided in binding wire 03 over adjacent ends of exterior cleats c to facilitate folding the blank sections into box form. Such slack is shown at S in Fig. 6. To lessen the amount of slack wire required at said points, grooves 9 maybe provided in the ends of exterior cleats c to receive and hold the binding Wire cl when the blank is folded into box form. It will be understood, however, that in certain forms of box no such slack wire is required or provided.

The means for positioning and feeding the box parts is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and l. As there shown, interior cleats b are positioned and fed in a channel-shaped endless conveyor chain 1 supported and guided by a stationary channel 2 secured to cross-bars at either end of the machine. The interior cleats are positioned against longitudinal movement by positioning blocks 8 adjustably secured to a flange on chain 1. Each section of side material a is supported at one end by an interior cleat b. The other end of each section of side material is preferably support ed by a stationary angle-guide 4 supported by cross-bars at either end of the machine. Angle-guide land conveyor chain 1 are provided with outer flanges extending high enough to prevent the side material from shifting sidewise of the machine. The several sections of side material are ")ositioned longitudinally of the macnme by positionmg fingers 5 earned by bloc 3 and by pos1- 'tioning fingers 6 carried by blocks 7 adjustably secured to an endless chain 8. Endless chain 8 lies adjacent angle-guide 1 and is supported and guided by a fixed channel 9 secured to cross-bars at either end of the machine. Bloc as 7 extend over the top of the cleats 0 away from blocks 7 and to insure the correct positioning of the exterior cleats dur ing the stapling operation, positioning arms 10 and 11 are providedtoengage each exterior cleat as it approaches the stapling plane and press it down on to the side material and over against blocks 7 and hold it in such position during the stapling of such cleat. Arms 10 and '11 are hung from brackets 12'which are secured to the side of fixed channel 9. Arm 10 is yieldingly pressed against the top of each exterior cleat by springs 13, the forward end of the arm 10 being beveled to permit the cleat to be forced under the arm 10. Arm 11 is yieldingly pressed against the inner side of each exterior cleat bysprings 14-, the forward end of the arm 11 being beveled at the side adjacent the cleat to permit the cleat to be forced past the arm 11.

sprocket wheels at either end of the machine and are fed in any suitable manner to pre sent the box parts to the stapling mechanism. In the illustrative machine the feed chains are with a continuous motion and the stapling mechanism operates on the moving work at controlled intervals in the manner illustrated and described in United States patent to O. C. Thompson, No. 1,738,806 dated Dec. 10, 1929 reference to which is hereby made for a detailed description of the chain feeding mechanism and the stapler controlling mechanism.

The stapling mechanism for applying the binding wires to the box part-s consists of a plurality of stapling headsone for each binding wire to be appliedwhich operate in unison to form staples from staple stock wire automatically fed thereto and to drive the staples over the. binding wire into the box parts. The individual stapling heads may be of the type shown in United States patent to O. C. Thomps lilo. 1,669,383, dated May 8, 1928, but their size and arrangement is varied to provide for stapling operations in different horizontal planes. For example, the stapling heads numbered 15 and 16 in 2, which apply the binding wires d and d, operate to drive staples in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the side material, while the stapling head numbered 17 in Fig. 2, which applies the binding wire d,

operates to drive staples in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the exterior cleats. Thus, as best shown in Fig. 2, the

lower extremit T of sta 71111 head 17 is 10- cated in a-higher horizontal plane than are the lower extremities ofstapling heads 15 and 16.

To provide the slack S in binding wire d when desired, the fingers 6 which lie between adjacent exterior cleat ends, extend above the upper surfaces of the exterior cleats a sufiicient distance so that when a finger 6, whicl is fed to the stapling head 17 beneath and in line with wire d, reaches the stapling plane, the wire engages finger 6 and is held thereby above the upper surfaces of the exterior cleats (see Fig. 3), thus producing the slack S shown in Fig. 6. The positioning arm 10 and a presser bar 18 which may be secured to the back plate of stapler head 17 assist in producing a uniform slack by holding the side material and exterior cleats down in angle-guide 4.

The stapling operations may be controlled in the manner shown in said Thompson Patcnt No. 1,738,806, to prevent any stapling operation during the time a finger 6 is passing beneath stapling head 17.

After a box blank has been wired, and while the stapling mechanism is applying wire to the next succeeding box blank, the wires between said box blanks may be severed by wire severing mechanisms 19. Said all if; Ii

wire severing mechanisms maybe of the type shown in United States patent to O. C.

of the machine. The other end of stripper bar 20 is supported in its raised position by an arm 25v pivoted to the raised end of bar 20 and bolted to the supporting bar 21; said arm 25 being providedwith a plurality of bolt holes 26fto permit adjustment in the elevation of the raised end of'the stripper bar.

In the illustrative machine, the conveyor chains 1 and 8 which feed the box parts beneath the stapling mechanism are advanced continuously at substantially a uniform speed, and the stapling heads are mounted on a carriage which reciprocates over. the mov-' clinches the ends of the staples which are driven through the side material. v

To resist the thrust of stapling head 1 and to clinch the ends of the staples which are driven through exterior cleats and the side material' a, a clincher block 29 is secured to 'the cross-oar 28 directly beneath stapling head 17. Clincher block 29 extends upward through an opening formed in stationary angle-guide at, said opening being of suiiicient' length to permit block 29 to reciprocate with the stapler carriage, and the upper surface of block 29 beingsubstantially flush with the upper surface of angle-guide l. Such an arrangement produces a better clinching operation than could be obtained by clinch- "ing the staple ends against the stationary angle-guide l. r i

The binding wire stock and the staple wire stock may be supported and fed 1n the manner shown in said Thompson Patent No.

The set-up and operation of the machine is as follows: 7 V

Positioning blocks 3 carrying fingers 5 are secured to conveyer chain lthe proper distances apart to 'POSl'tlOIl the interior cleats 1 quired and the sheets of side material. Positioning blocks 7 carrying fingers 6 are secured to conveyor chain 8 opposite blocks 3 on chain 1, the fingers 6 of the three intermediate blocks 7 being high enough to produce the rea'n'iount of slack in the wire over adjacent exterior clea; ends when such slack is desired. The stapl control mechanism is th a set in the m nier disclosed in said 1 'ent No. 1,?33,806, to locate the staples where dedred in the work. The machine is then started and place the interior cleats in chain 1 between blocks 3, lay the sheets of side material on the interior cleats between fingers 5 and on the stationary angle-guide t between fingers G.- lilxterior cleats c are then placed on the side material between lingers 6 and against blocks I n, "we

00-; you. LS ll 7. mile chine while the chan and 8 are moving. As the box p t A .1011 the stapling plane, arms 10 and i1 engage the e.-

' Linst blo s"? while at the same cleat down on the side inav angle guide l. 3 used to produce slaclr I e each linger 6 it up proaches the stapling plane engages the oinoing wire ion in. been stapled to the preceding exterior clea and holes the wire above the upper surface of the ertterior cleats to produce the slick wire desired. barlO holds each supporting angle gr ity in the amount tions. clincher blocks 2? and 29 clinch the staples which are driven through the side material. lVhen the completed blank stapling mechanisn'uit rines clined stripper mechanisms sever the wires between the coinpl'etc'l blank and the one being operated upon by the stapling mechanism.

urea section down in its dc to insure a uniformr slaclt has passed the up on the invAmong other advantages, the present iii-- vention provides for the first time work controlling means for positioning in foldable relationship box sections including exterior cleats, and an organized machine for appl ing binding wire to said cleats while providing slack wire over adjacent exterior cle'at ends to facilitate folding the blank into box form.

it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment 1 thereof shown herein for illustration, and

that all the inventive features need not be i -v be placedin' the maerior cleat and Presser wire between sec During the operations the bars and the wire severing or channel may be substituted for the stationary angle guide 4.

Having described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. In a wirebound box blank machine, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; means to position a cleat on each section of side material substantially parallel with the end of the section and with the cleats of the several sections in line with each other; stapling mechanism adapted to apply a binding wire to said cleats to fol-dably conneot them; means to bow the binding Wire over an interval between adjacent cleat ends to provide slack in said wire at said point; and means to cause relative progression between the stapling mechanism and the work to prebeneath and adjacent one end of each section of side material; means to position an exterior cleat upon and adjacent the other end of each section of side, material to told therewith, said means including a positioning member to engage the end and one side of an exterior cleat and'another positioning member to engage the other side of the exterior cleat, one of said positioning members being supported outside the area of the blankforming materials; stapling mechanisms operable in different horizontal planes to apply a binding wire to the side material and a binding wire to the exterior cleats; and means to cause relative progression between the stapling mechanism and the work.

3. In a wirebound box bank machine, the

V combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; means to position thereon a plu- 7 rality of cleats in line and fo-ldable with the sections of side material including a member to engage the end and one side of an exterior cleat and another member to engage the other side of the exterior cleat, one of said members being supported outside the area of the blank-forming materials; stapling mechanisms operable in different horizontal planes to apply a binding wire to the side material and a binding wire to the cleats; and means to cause relative progression between the stapling mechanism and the work.

4. A machine for making a Wired foldable box blank having a line of spaced and wired cleats on the upper surface of the blank, which comprises, in combination, means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; means to position thereon a plurality of cleats in line and in spaced relationship including a member to engage the end and one side of an exterior cleat and another member to engage the other sideof the exterior cleat, one of said members being supported outside the area of the blankforming materials; and stapling mechanisms operable simultaneously in different horizontal planes to staple a binding wire to the side material and a binding wire to the cleats.

5. A machine for making a wired foldable box blank having a line of spaced and wired cleats on the upper surface of the blank, which comprises, in combination, means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; means to position thereon a plurality of cleats in line and in spaced relationship; stapling mechanisms operable simultaneously in different horizontal planes to staple a binding wire to the side material and a binding wire to the cleats; and'means to provide slack in the binding Wire which is stapled to the cleats at certain predetermined points.

6. A machine for making a wired foldable box blank having interior and exterior cleats comprising, in combination, means to positi on in foldable relationship a line of interior cleats; means to position on each interior cleat one end of a section of side material; means to support and position the other end of each section of side material; means to position on the last-mentioned end of each section of side material an exterior cleat, the exterior cleats of the several sections being in line with each other, said means including a positioning member to engage the end and one side of an exterior cleat and another member to engage the other side of the exterior cleat, one of said members being supported outside the area of the blank-forming materials; and stapling mechanisms operable in different horizontal planes to staple a binding wire to the side material and interior cleats and a binding wire to the exterior cleats and the side material.

7 A machine for making a wired foldable box blank having interior and exterior cleats comprising, in combination, means to position in foldable relationship on a movable support a line of interior cleats; means to position on each interior cleat one end of a section of side material; means to position on a stationary support the other end of each section of side material; means to position on the last-mentioned end of each section of side material an exterior cleat, theexterior cleats of the several sections being in line with each other; stapling mechanisms operable in different horizontal planes to staple a binding wire to the side material and interior cleats and a binding wire to the exterior cleats and the side material; and clincher means extending through an opening provided in said stationary support and movable with the work during a stapling operation to clinch the ends of staples which are driven through the exterior cleats and the side material.

8. In a wirebound box blank machine, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; means to position longitudinally and hold against lateral movement in one direction an exterior cleat on each section of side material adjacent to and substantially parallel with the end of the section of side material; means to position the cleats of the several sections in foldable relationship; and yielding means adapted'to engage each said cleat in turn to position said cleat and hold it against lateral movement in the other direction; stapling mechanism to apply a binding wire to said cleats to folda'bly connect them; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work.

9. In a wirebound box blank machine, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of box sections; means to apply a binding wire to the box sections to foldably connect them; and means to bow the binding wire over an interval be tween adjacent box sections to provide slack in said binding wire at said point.

10. In a wirebound box blank machine, the combination of means to position in fo-ldable relationship a plurality of box sections; means to apply binding wires to the box sections to foldably connect them; and means operable upon a binding wire to provide slack in said binding wire at a predetermined point.

11. In a machine for use in making shipping containers, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of container sections; means to apply a flexible binder to the container sections to foldably connect them; and means to bow the flexible binder over an interval between adjacent container sections to provide slack in said binder at said point. a

12. In a machine for use in making shipping containers, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of container sections; means to apply flexible binders to said sections to foldably connect them; and means to increase the length of a binder over certain predetermined regions of the work while maintaining the normal length of the binder over other regions of the work.

13. In a machine for use in making shipping containers, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; neans to position a cleat on each section of said material substantially parallel with the end of the section and with the cleats of the several sections in line with each other; mechanism to apply a flexible binder to said cleats to foldably connect them; means to how the binder over an interval between adjacent cleat ends to provide slack in said binder at sald point and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work to present the work to said mechanism.

14. In a machine for use in making shipping containers, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections or side material; means to position thereon a plurality of cleats in line and foldable with the sections of side material, said means including a member to engage the end and one side otthe exterior cleat and another member to engage the other side of t 1e exterior cleat, one of said members being supported outside the area of the blank-forming materials; mechanism operable in different horizontal planes to apply a flexible binder to the side material and a flexible binder to the cleats; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work.

15. In a machine for use in making containers, the combination of a support for the container parts; means to apply flexible binders to the container parts; and means to increase the length of the binder over certain predetermined regions of the work while maintaining the normal length of the binder over other regions of the work.

16. In a machine for making foldable box blanks, the combination of means to position in toldable relationship a plurality of sec tions of side material and exterior cleats with the cleats of the several sections disposed on top of the side material and in line with each other in end to end spaced relationship to fold with the side material, and mechanism to secure the cleats to the side material and foldably connect the sections with flexible binders; said positioning means including a positioning member supported outside the area of the blank-forming materials and extending over into said area.

17. In a machine for making foldable box blanks, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material and exterior cleats with the cleats of the several sections disposed on top of the side material and in line with each other in end to end spaced relationship to told with the side material, and mechanism to secure the cleats to the side material and toldably connect the sections with flexible binders; said positioning means including a positioning member supported outside the area of the blank-forming materials and extending over into said area and movable with the blank-forming materials. a r

18. In a machine for making foldable box blanks, the combination of means to position in :toldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material and exterior cleats with the cleats of the several sections disposed on top ofv the side material-and in line with each other in end to end spaced relationship to told with the sidemateri'al, and mechanism 55 rection an exterior cleat on each section of to secure the cleats to the side material and foldably connect the sections with flexible binders; said positioning means including a positioning member supported outside of the area of the blank-forming materials and extending over into said area, and a positioning member supported above the blank-forming materials and within the area thereof.

19. In a machine for making toldable box blanks, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material and exterior cleats with the cleats of the several sections disposed on top of the side material and in line with each other in end to end spaced relationship to told with the side material, and mechanism to secure the cleats to the side material and foldably connect the sections with flexible binders; said positioning means including a positioning member supported outside of the area of the blank-forming materials and extending over into said area and movable with the blank-forming materials, and a stationary positioning member supported above the blank-forming materialsand within the area thereof.

20. A machine for making a wired foldable box blank having interior and exterior cleats, comprising, in combination, means to position in foldable relationship a line of interior cleats; means to position on each interior cleat one end of a section of side material; means to support the other end of each sec tion of side material; means to position an exterior cleat on the last mentioned end of each section of side material, the exterior cleats of the several sections being in line with each other and suitably spaced to told with the sections of side material; stapling mechanisms to staple binding wire to the side material an'cl'the interior cleats, and a bind ing wire to the exterior cleats and side material; means to feed the work to the stapling mechanisms; and clincher means extending through an opening provided in the side material support to receive the thrust of a stapling mechanism and to clinch the ends of staples which may be driven through the ex terior cleats and the side material.

21. In a wirebound box blank machine, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material; means to position longitudinally and hold against lateral movement in one diside material adjacent to and substantially parallel with the end of the section of side material, said means including a member adapted to position the cleats of the several sections in foldable relationship; separate means to engage each cleat and hold it against lateral movement in the other direction; stapling mechanism to apply a binding wire to said cleats to foldably connect them; and

means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work.

22. In a machine for making foldable box blanks, the combination of means to position in foldable relationship a plurality of sections of side material and exterior cleats, with the cleats of the several sections disposed on top of the side material and in line with each other in end-to-end spaced relationship to fold with the side material, and mechanism to secure thecleats to the side material and toldably connect the sections with a flexible binder; said positioning means including a positioning member to engage the ends and one side of an exterior cleat to position it longitudinally and laterally in one direction, and another positioning member to engage the other side of the cleat to position it laterally in the other direction, one of said positioning members being supported outside the area of the blank-forming materials. I

23. In a machine for making foldable box blanks, the combination of means to position in toldable relationship side material and exterior cleats, the side material being foldable at potential box corners and the exterior cleats being disposed on top of the side material and in line with each other in end-to-end spaced relationship to told with the side material, and mechanism to secure the cleats to the side material and foldably connect the cleats with a flexible binder; said positioning means including a member to space the exterior cleats endwise and to hold them against lateral movement in one direction, and another member to engage the exterior cleats and hold them against lateral movement in the other direction, one of said members being supported outside the area of the blankforming materials.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 16th day of March 1929;

KENNETH W. REED. 

